City administration presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget at a Spanish‑language community hearing, outlining a mix of new revenues and targeted spending to offset state revenue losses.

Mario Paniagua, a city administration representative, told attendees that Phoenix is developing the FY2025–26 budget and warned of "vientos financieros en contra" after recent state actions removed some local revenue sources. He said staff prepared a draft that balances projected costs and revenue and opened the plan to public comment before the City Council takes action.

The presentation cited a City Council vote on March 18 to raise the transaction privilege tax rate from 2.3% to 2.8%, effective July 1, 2025. The administration said the higher rate is intended to generate revenue to protect current services and provide capacity for priority additions.

Key proposed additions in the draft budget included funding for the Phoenix Fire Department to reduce emergency response times by hiring additional firefighters, staffing new and existing fire stations and operating new apparatus. Scott Crawley, who identified himself as a Phoenix firefighter with 25 years' service, said firefighters need more resources: "Nos gustaría ver que añadirán más estaciones de servicios de bombero y más recursos ... y tener también más empleados que trabajen."

The draft also includes approximately $4.5 million in general‑fund resources for the Office of Homeless Solutions for 2025–26 to continue shelter operations at sites the presentation named — Río Fresco, the Phoenix Navigation Center and the Washington Shelter — and to support heat‑relief efforts for people experiencing homelessness as some federal pandemic-era funding expires.

Separately, the proposal would add about $5.6 million in non‑general‑fund spending for the water services department to reopen the Cake Creek water recovery plant, a project the administration described as expanding wastewater treatment and water purification capacity to meet future needs.

City staff emphasized the budget timeline: the administration's proposed budget will be presented to the City Council on May 6, 2025, with a council vote scheduled for May 21, 2025, adoption of the budget ordinance expected in June and the property tax ordinance adopted in early July.

Supporters and opponents of particular funding choices spoke during the hearing; public commenters included firefighters urging continued investment in emergency response and community members urging heat‑resilience and homelessness services. No final Council action on the overall FY2025–26 budget was recorded at this hearing.

Ending: The administration asked that residents submit comments at the hearing and by other channels before the May 6 Council presentation. The draft budget remains subject to Council review and the formal May 21 vote.